Mexican tourist jailed 10 days for hitting cabby
A holiday for a Mexican man in Singapore ended up in a jail sentence after the tourist, Jonathan Nunez Gonzalez, slapped and punched a cabby whom he believed was taking him for a ride.
Gonzalez, 35, was charged on one count of voluntarily causing hurt to taxi driver Lee Eng Kuan, 51. He was sentenced to 10 days’ jail after pleading guilty to the charge on Tuesday (30 May).
Gonzalez was working as a chief strategy officer in a company in Malaysia at the time of the offence. He has since lost his job.
Investigations showed that on 15 January this year, Gonzalez and his wife, Gracia Ramirez, boarded Lee’s taxi along Neil Road at around 3am. Gonzalez told the cabby to bring them to Westin Hotel, but Lee misunderstood the destination for Swissotel the Stamford Hotel, which was previously known as Westin Stamford Hotel.
After Lee drove the couple to the Swissotel, Ramirez used her phone’s map to guide Lee to the correct hotel. Frustrated, she began quarrelling with Lee.
Believing that Lee was driving a longer route to get a higher fare, Gonzalez began arguing with Lee too.
As they were some 50m to 100m from the hotel, Gonzalez alighted from the taxi as he felt Lee had disrespected his wife by raising his voice at her.
He then opened Lee’s driver door and slapped Lee on his left cheek, prompting Lee to alight from the taxi.
The two resumed their argument, leading to Gonzalez punching Lee on his chest. Lee ended up falling backwards on his buttocks.
After Gonzalez left the taxi with his wife, Lee called for the police.
Lee’s medical report said that he had numbness over his left cheek and a small abrasion over his left upper lip. He was given medical leave for three days due to his injuries.
Gonzalez’s lawyer Anand Nalachandran said his client had compensated Lee with $2,000. He said Lee had taken twice as long to drive and went to the wrong location, causing the couple to suspect that the taxi driver was exploiting their unfamiliarity with the area to inflate the fare.
Nalachandran sought a fine or a short jail sentence, saying that his client suffered emotionally and financially after being unable to return to work.
For voluntarily causing hurt, Gonzalez could have been jailed up to two years and/or fined up to $5,000.
Other Singapore stories:
Woman jailed for threatening social worker with 2 knives over child access
Ex-car salesman jailed for siphoning nearly half a million dollars
62-year-old e-bike rider charged for beating red light, investigated for assault
